Years ago I had scored a free 6"x6"x12" tank from my LFS who probably used it to keep(kill) bettas. Since he moved on to a combined multi-tank system, I asked for one of his older tanks. I once tried to setup a planted tank in it, but I failed since a week from setting up I had to leave for a month long excursion. Returned to find it turned into hydrilla stew.

I wish to restart it. This time I wanna plan it better and document the build on this thread. This is the tank in its current state:

Substrate: Inert. Open to suggestions

Light: 5W Phillips 6500k LED. 8hr photoperiod.

Flora: Anubias nana, Hydrocotyle Tripartita, Vallisneria nana, java moss. Open to more suggestions, I wanted to try my hand at Rotala nanjenshan, but I dont know if its a wise choice for this system.

Fauna: A few Shrimp.

Equipment: None.

Dosing: None planned, but I might add excel and EI if the plants begin showing signs.

Challenges:

Temperature: Will the system survive the 49C Nagpur Summer. Indoor temperatures hover in the upper 30s.

Plants: I plan to add one each of the plants I listed, What else can be added to the system.

Substrate: Can I avoid it completely? I can have a small pot in the center with some dirt and good substrate in the center to grow the valisneria and hydrocotyle, surrounded with moss and anubias tied to a rock? Is there any major benefit of going bare bottom?

Water change: I wish to get this system into a natural balance so as to not dose anything or do regular water changes.

Goals

Get a growing ecosystem with healthy flora and fauna with almost no external additions

What do you say about all this? I will begin with the setup later this week.

Stem Plants would not work as they do not look good in Emmersed form. For 6 inches tall tank, you will have to trim very frequently and it will get boring. if the plants start growing emmersed, they wont look good.

Use Java ferns and Bolbitis they will look really good if they grow out of the tank. Any inert substrate will work in this case. Ferns grow very will with Excel or Glut suppliment.

Stem Plants would not work as they do not look good in Emmersed form. For 6 inches tall tank, you will have to trim very frequently and it will get boring. if the plants start growing emmersed, they wont look good.

Use Java ferns and Bolbitis they will look really good if they grow out of the tank. Any inert substrate will work in this case. Ferns grow very will with Excel or Glut suppliment.

Moss wont grow considering high temperatures.

This tank is 12inch tall not 6 inch.

Bolbitis is an interesting choice, completely missed it. Do you think anubias and hydrocotyle will survive the temperatures?

For your indoor temperature anubias and java ferns shouldn't be problem.
How would you manage a pico without water changes. Wont there be any algae and mosquito issues?
I have read people maintaining a pico without any filtration by doing daily water changes.

For your indoor temperature anubias and java ferns shouldn't be problem.
How would you manage a pico without water changes. Wont there be any algae and mosquito issues?
I have read people maintaining a pico without any filtration by doing daily water changes.

Mosquitoes are something that most hobbyists internationally dont have to struggle with. And now that I think of it, by no water change I mean very minimal water change, 10-20% a week along with evaporation top up. If algae does creep up and the situation calls for a water change I'll perform the necessary, but over time I feel regular water changes wont be necessary.

If you are worried about algae issues, start off with stemmed plants and phase them out slowly until you get a balance so that algae doesnt get a foothold. You have not mentioned what type of lighting?
What i would be doing in this situation is go for substrate, carpeting plants preferably one of the hair grass varieties like eleocharis sp., and just a few small rocks strategically aquascaped so you have more of open space that even a small tank looks more spacious esp when you are using just shrimp. Just my 2 cents worth of info here.

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